Difference between revisions of "Lemon" - New World Encyclopedia

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| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]) Burm.f.
 
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major hybrid plant in the ''Citrus'' genus as well as a common name for the fruits of this tree. Citrus is
 
  
The '''lemon''' (''Citrus × limon'') is a [[hybrid]] in cultivated wild plants. It is the common name for the reproductive tissue surrounding the seed of the angiosperm lemon tree. The [[fruit]] are used primarily for their [[juice]], though the [[pulp]] and [[peel (fruit)|rind]] ([[zest (ingredient)|zest]]) are also used, primarily in [[cooking]] and [[baking]]. Lemon juice is about 5% [[acid]], which gives lemons a sour taste and a [[pH]] of 2 to 3. This makes lemon juice a cheap, readily available acid for use in educational science experiments.  
+
'''Lemon''' (''Citrus × limon'') is a hybrid of the [[plant]] [[genus]] ''Citrus'', as well as the common name for the popular edible [[fruit]] of this small [[tree]] or spreading [[bush]]. The lemon plant is characterized by thorny [[branch]]es and white [[flower]]s with purple edges, while the [[acid]]ic, juicy fruit is oval (egg-shaped), has an aromatic rind that is typically yellow when ripe (green as immature or under certain environmental conditions), and has a prominent nipple or bulge on the blossom end.
  
'''''Citrus''''' is a [[genus]] of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Rutaceae]] (orange family) and a common name for edible [[fruit]]s of this genus (and sometimes related genera). Originating in tropical and subtropical southeast [[Asia]], these plants are among the oldest fruit crops to be domesticated (Katz and Weaver 2003). Citrus fruits are a distinctive berry with the internal parts divided into segments and include [[orange (fruit)|orange]]s, [[lemon]]s, [[lime]]s, [[citron]]s, [[grapefruit]], [[pomelo]]s (pummelo, pommelo), and mandarins (tangerines).  
+
The ''[[Citrus]]'' genus is a group of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Rutaceae]] (orange family) that originated in tropical and subtropical southeast [[Asia]] and that have a distinctive berry with the internal parts divided into segments. Other members of the Citrus genus include [[orange (fruit)|orange]]s, [[lime]]s, [[citron]]s, [[grapefruit]], [[pomelo]]s (pummelo, pommelo), and mandarins (tangerines). Most members of the ''Citrus'' genus arose as hybrids, and the hybridized types of citrus, such as lemon (''Citrus limon''), may or may not be recognized as [[species]] according to different taxonomies (Krueger 2003).
  
For cooler winter areas, [[Lime (fruit)|lime]] and [[lemon]] should not be grown, since they are more sensitive to winter cold than other citrus fruits. Lemons are commercially grown in cooler-summer/moderate-winter coastal Southern California, because sweetness is neither attained nor expected in retail lemon fruit.
+
While the fruit of the lemon serves the plant's individual purpose of [[reproduction]], it also serves a wider value for [[human]]s in terms of culinary and non-culinary uses. Among the culinary uses are the use of the juice in drinks, garnishes for drinks, condiments, salad dressings, and squeezed over cooked meat or [[vegetable]]s. As an astringent citrus, lemons generally are not eaten on their own. Among non-culinary purposes are the use of lemon oil in perfumes, cosmetics, and furniture polish and the tree for aesthetic purposes.  
  
More astringent citrus, such as [[lemon]]s and [[Lime (fruit)|limes]] are generally not eaten on their own. Though Meyer Lemon (thought to be a cross between a true lemon and a mandarin orange or sweet orange) can be eaten "out of hand," it is both sweet and sour. Lemonade or limeade are popular beverages prepared by diluting the juices of these fruits and adding [[sugar]]. Lemons and limes are also used as garnishes or in cooked dishes. Their juice is used as an ingredient in a variety of dishes and can commonly be found in salad dressings and squeezed over cooked meat or [[vegetable]]s. Marmalade, a condiment derived from cooked orange and lemon, can be especially bitter. Lemon or lime is commonly used as a garnish for water, soft drinks, or cocktails. Lemon juice is used to relieve the pain of [[bee]] stings.
+
Lemon juice is about five percent [[acid]], which gives lemons a sour taste and a [[pH]] of 2 to 3. This makes lemon juice a cheap, readily available acid for use in educational science experiments.  
  
Citrus taxonomy is complex and unsettled. It is generally assumed that there were three fundamental citrus [[species]] and all others arose from hybridization events, but which of the hybrids are considered species varies widely according to the classification scheme used (Katz and Weaver 2003).
+
==Description and overview==
 +
[[Image:Citrus limon a.JPG|left|thumb|240px|A lemon tree]]
  
The hybridized types of citrus may or may not be recognized as species according to different taxonomies.
+
A lemon tree can grow up to ten meters (33 feet), but they are usually smaller. The branches are thorny and form an open crown. The leaves are green, shiny, and elliptical-acuminate. [[Flower]]s are white on the outside with a violet streaked interior and have a strong [[fragrance]]. On a lemon tree, flowers and ripe fruits can be found at the same time (Lanzara and Pizetti 1978).
  
 +
Lemon fruit are oval and can range from about the size of a large egg to a small grapefruit (Herbst 2001). When ripe, they have a bright yellow nose, a layer of [[pith]] underneath and a paler yellow segmented interior. Small [[seed]]s commonly known as 'floopies' are found within the fruit; the skin can be thick or thin. Notably, the color of citrus fruits only develops in climates with a (diurnal) cool winter. In tropical regions with no winter, citrus fruits remain green until maturity. Commercially, lemons are commonly picked while green and ripened in cool, dark rooms.
  
==Description==
+
[[Image:Lemon_and_lime.JPG|thumb|right|240px|Lemon and lime output in 2005]]
[[Image:Citrus limon a.JPG|left|thumb|A lemon tree]]A lemon tree can grow up to 10 meters (33 feet), but they are usually smaller. The branches are thorny, and form an open crown. The leaves are green, shiny and [[leaf shape|elliptical-acuminate]]. [[Flower]]s are white on the outside with a violet streaked interior and have a strong [[fragrance]]. On a lemon tree, flowers and ripe fruits can be found at the same time.<ref> Paola Lanzara and Mariella Pizzetti '''Simon & Schuster's Guide to Trees''' pp. 44. A Fireside Book Published by Simon & Schuster, INC.</ref>
+
For cooler winter areas, lemon and lime trees should not be grown, since they are more sensitive to winter cold than other citrus fruits. The largest producers are [[Italy]] and the [[United States]]. In the United States, lemons are commercially grown in cooler-summer/moderate-winter coastal Southern California, because sweetness is neither attained nor expected in retail lemon fruit. Other top producing nations include [[Spain]], [[Greece]], and [[Argentina]].
  
Lemon fruit are oval. When ripe, they have a bright yellow nose, a layer of [[pith]] underneath and a paler yellow segmented interior. Small [[seed]]s commonly known as 'floopies' are found within the fruit.
+
==History==
 +
Krueger (2003) claims that the generally accepted view is that there were three primordial Citrus species&mdash;''Citrus medica'' ([[citron]]s), ''Citrus maxima'' ([[pumelo]]s), and ''Citrus reticulata'' ([[mandarin]]s)&mdash;and that all other types of citrus rose from single or sequential hybridization events between these species or their offspring. Based on whether the hybridized types of citrus are recognized as species, anywhere from three to 170 species are recognized, with the commonly used system of Swingle recognizing 16 species (Krueger 2003).
 +
 
 +
[[Image:William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) - Girl Holding Lemons (1899).jpg|thumb|right|William-Adolphe Bouguereau: ''Girl Holding Lemons'']]
 +
The lemon is a cultivated hybrid deriving from wild species such as the [[citron]] and [[Mandarin orange|mandarin]]. When and where this first occurred is not known. The citron&mdash;apparently the fruit described in [[Pliny's Natural History]] (XII, vii.15) as the ''malum medicum'', the "medicinal fruit"&mdash;seems to have been the first citrus fruit known in the Mediterranean world.
 +
 
 +
Depictions of citrus trees appear in [[Roman Empire|Roman]] mosaics of [[North Africa]], but the first unequivocal description of the lemon is found in the early tenth-century [[Arabic language|Arabic]] treatise on farming by [[Qustus al-Rumi]]. The use and cultivation of the lemon, by the Cantonese (Southern Barbarians) is noted in the early twelfth century. At the end of the twelfth century, Ibn Jami', personal physician to the Muslim leader [[Saladin]], wrote a treatise on the lemon, after which it is mentioned with greater frequency in literature of the Mediterranean. However, it is believed that the first lemons were originally cultivated in the hot, semi-arid Deccan Plateau in Central [[India]].
  
==History==
+
The origin of the name ''"lemon"'' is through [[Persian language|Persian]] (لیمو ''Limu'' [pronounced with long e and short u]), akin to the [[Sanskrit]] ''nimbuka''. They were cultivated in Genoa, [[Italy]] in the mid-fiteenth century, and appeared in the Azores in 1494. Research has identified lemons in the ruins of [[Pompeii]] (Russell and Cutler 2004). Lemons were once used by the British Royal Navy to combat [[scurvy]], as they provided a large amount of [[Vitamin C]].
[[Image:William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) - Girl Holding Lemons (1899).jpg|thumb|right|[[William-Adolphe Bouguereau]] ''Girl Holding Lemons'']]
+
 
The lemon is a cultivated hybrid deriving from wild species such as the [[citron]] and [[Mandarin orange|mandarin]]. When and where this first occurred is not known. The citron &ndash; apparently the fruit described in [[Pliny's Natural History]] (XII, vii.15) as the ''malum medicum'', the "medicinal fruit" &ndash; seems to have been the first citrus fruit known in the Mediterranean world. Depictions of citrus trees appear in [[Roman Empire|Roman]] [[mosaic]]s of [[North Africa]], but the first unequivocal description of the lemon is found in the early 10th-century [[Arabic language|Arabic]] treatise on farming by [[Qustus al-Rumi]]. The use and cultivation of the lemon, by the Cantonese (Southern Barbarians) is noted in the early 12th century. At the end of the 12th century, Ibn Jami', personal physician to the Muslim leader [[Saladin]], wrote a treatise on the lemon, after which it is mentioned with greater frequency in the Mediterranean. However, it is believed that the first lemons were originally cultivated in the hot, semi-arid [[Deccan Plateau]] in [[Geography of India|Central India]].
+
==Culinary uses==
 +
[[Image:Lemon-edit1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Lemons]]
  
The origin of the name ''"lemon"'' is through [[Persian language|Persian]] (لیمو ''Limu'' [pronounced with long e and short u]), akin to the [[Sanskrit]] ''nimbuka''. They were cultivated in [[Genoa]] in the mid-15th century, and appeared in the [[Azores]] in 1494. More recent research has identified lemons in the ruins of [[Pompeii]].<ref>Russell, Tony & Catherine Cutler (Hermes House 2004) Trees, an Illustrated Identifier and Encyclopedia Aness Publishing. </ref> Lemons were once used by the British [[Royal Navy]] to combat [[scurvy]], as they provided a large amount of [[Vitamin C]].
+
The lemon fruit is used primarily for its juice, although the [[pulp]] and peel (rind) are also used, primarily in cooking and baking.
  
==In food preparation==
+
Astringent citrus, such as lemons and [[Lime (fruit)|limes]], are generally not eaten on their own. Both lemons and limes are regularly served as [[lemonade]] or [[limeade]] by diluting the juices of these fruits and adding [[sugar]]. Lemons and limes are also used as garnishes for drinks such as [[iced tea]] or a soft drink, with a slice either inside or on the rim of the glass. Only lemons, however, are used in the Italian liqueur Limoncello. A wedge of lemon is also often used to add flavor to water. Marmalade, a condiment derived from cooked orange and lemon, can be especially bitter.
[[Image:Lemon-edit1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Lemons]]{{nutritionalvalue | name=Lemon, raw, without peel | water=89 g | kJ=121 | protein=1.1 g | fat=0.3 g | carbs=9 g | fiber=2.8 g | sugars=2.5 g | vitC_mg=53 | opt1n=[[Citric acid]] | opt1v=5 g | right=1 }}
 
  
Both lemons and [[lime (fruit)|limes]] are regularly served as [[lemonade]] or [[limeade]], its equivalent, or as a [[garnish (food)|garnish]] for drinks such as [[iced tea]] or a [[soft drink]], with a slice either inside or on the rim of the glass. Only lemons, however, are used in the Italian liqueur [[Limoncello]]. A wedge of lemon is also often used to add flavor to water.  The average lemon contains approximately 3 tablespoons of juice. Lemons warmed to room temperature before squeezing (in a [[Microwave oven|microwave]] or by leaving on a counter) increases the amount of juice that can be extracted.  Storing lemons at room temperature for long periods makes them more vulnerable to [[mold]].
+
Lemons and limes are used as an ingredient in a variety of dishes and their juice can commonly be found in salad dressings and squeezed over cooked meat or [[vegetable]]s. Lemon juice is typically squeezed onto [[fish]] dishes&mdash;the acidic juice neutralizes the taste of [[amine]]s in [[fish]] by converting them to nonvolatile [[ammonium]] [[salt]]s. In addition, lemon juice is widely used, along with other ingredients, when marinating meat before cooking&mdash;the acid provided by the juice partially [[hydrolysis|hydrolyzes]] the tough [[collagen]] fibers in the meat (tenderizing the meat).
  
Lemon juice is typically squeezed onto [[fish (food)|fish]] dishes; the acidic juice neutralizes the taste of [[amine]]s in fish by converting them to nonvolatile [[ammonium]] salts.
+
Some people like to eat lemons as fruit; however, water should be consumed afterward to wash the citric acid and sugar from the teeth, which might otherwise promote tooth decay and many other dental [[disease]]s.  
  
In addition, lemon juice is widely used, along with other ingredients, when [[marination|marinating]] meat before cooking: the acid provided by the juice partially [[hydrolysis|hydrolyzes]] the tough collagen fibers in the meat ([[tenderizing]] the meat), though the juice does not have any [[antibiotic]] effects.
+
Lemons also make a good short-term preservative, commonly used on sliced [[apple]]s. This keeps the fruit crisp and white for about a day, preventing the unappetizing browning effect of oxidization. This helps to prolong the usage of the fruit.
  
Some people like to eat lemons as fruit; however, water should be consumed afterwards to wash the citric acid and sugar from the teeth, which might otherwise promote [[dental caries|tooth decay]] and many other dental diseases. It can be used on its own or with [[Orange (fruit)|oranges]] to make [[marmalade]].
+
Lemon juice is used to relieve the pain of [[bee]] stings, though the juice does not have any [[antibiotic]] effects.
  
Lemons also make a good short-term preservative, commonly used on sliced apples. This keeps the fruit crisp and white for about a day, preventing the unappetizing browning effect of oxidization. This helps to prolong the usage of the fruit.
+
Lemons warmed to room temperature before squeezing (in a microwave or by leaving on a counter) increases the amount of juice that can be extracted. Storing lemons at room temperature for long periods makes them more vulnerable to [[mold]].
  
==Chemistry==
+
==Chemistry and health benefits==
 
[[Image:Limonene-2D-skeletal.png|thumb|right|80px|D-limonene]]
 
[[Image:Limonene-2D-skeletal.png|thumb|right|80px|D-limonene]]
Lemons and other citrus fruits contain amounts of different [[chemical]]s and are thought to have some health benefits. They contain a [[terpene]] called [[D-limonene]] which gives their characteristic lemon smell and taste. Lemons contain significant amounts of [[citric acid]]; this is why they have a low pH and a sour taste. They also contain [[Vitamin C]] (Ascorbic acid) which is essential to human health. 100 [[litre|milliliter]]s of lemon juice contains approximately 50 [[gram|milligram]]s of Vitamin C (55% of the recommended daily value) and 5 [[gram]]s of citric acid.
+
Lemons and other citrus fruits contain amounts of different chemicals that are thought to have some health benefits. They contain a [[terpene]] called [[D-limonene]], which gives their characteristic lemon smell and taste. Lemons also contain significant amounts of [[citric acid]]&mdash;this is why they have a low [[pH]] and a sour taste.  
 +
 
 +
Lemons are very high in [[Vitamin C]] (ascorbic acid), which is essential to human health. A 100 milliliter amount of lemon juice contains approximately 50 milligrams of vitamin C (55 percent of the recommended daily value) and five grams of citric acid. Because of its high vitamin C content, lemon has been touted in [[alternative medicine]] as a tonic for the [[gastrointestinal tract|digestive system]], [[immune system]], and [[skin]]. However, vitamin C is quickly lost once the lemon is squeezed, with a 20 percent loss after only eight hours at room temperature or 24 hours in a refrigerator (Herbst 2001).
 +
 
 +
Some sources state that lemons contain unique flavonoid compounds that have antioxidant and anti-[[cancer]] properties (GMF 2007). These may be able to deter [[cell (biology)|cell]] growth in cancers. Limonins found in lemons could also be anti-[[carcinogen]]s.
  
Lemons can be processed to [[extract]] oils and essences.
+
There is a belief in Ayurvedic medicine that a cup of hot water with lemon juice in it tonifies and purifies the [[liver]].
  
==Health benefits==
+
==Non-culinary uses of lemon==
Some sources state that lemons contain unique flavonoid compounds that have antioxidant and anti-[[cancer]] properties.<ref>[http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=27 Healthiest foods]</ref> These may be able to deter cell growth in cancers. Limonins found in lemons could also be anti-[[carcinogen]]s.
 
  
Because of its high Vitamin C content, lemon has been touted in [[alternative medicine]] as a tonic for the [[gastrointestinal tract|digestive system]], [[immune system]], and [[skin]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
+
Historically, lemons have been utilized in a number of non-culinary purposes, including as an epilepsy remedy, an invisible ink, and a bleaching agent (Herbst 2001).  
  
There is a belief in [[Ayurveda|Ayurvedic medicine]] that a cup of hot water with lemon juice in it tonifies and purifies the liver.
+
Lemons can be processed to [[extract]] oils and essences. Lemon oil or the essential oil is used in perfumes, cosmetics, and furniture polish. In a [[Japan]]ese study into the effects of aromatherapy, lemon essential oil in vapor form has been found to reduce [[Stress (medicine)|stress]] in [[mouse|mice]] (Komiya et al. 2006).  
  
In a Japanese study into the effects of [[aromatherapy]], lemon [[essential oil]] in vapour form has been found to reduce [[Stress (medicine)|stress]] in [[mouse|mice]].<ref name="aromatherapy">{{cite web
+
The peel of the lemon is used to make commercial pectin.  
  | coauthors = Komiya M, Takeuchi T, Harada E
 
  | title = Lemon oil vapor causes an anti-stress effect via modulating the 5-HT and DA activities in mice.
 
  | publisher = PubMed.gov
 
  | date = 2006-06-15
 
  | url = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16780969&query_hl=6&itool=pubmed_docsum
 
  | accessdate = 2007-04-26 }}</ref>
 
  
==Lemon battery==
+
A common school experiment involving lemons is to attach [[electrode]]s and use them as a [[battery (electricity)|battery]] to power a light. The electricity generated may also be used to power a motor to move the lemons (on wheels) like a car or truck. These experiments also work with other [[fruit]] like [[apple]]s and with [[potato]]es.
:''Main article: [[Lemon battery]]''
 
A common school experiment involving lemons is to attach [[electrode]]s and use them as a [[battery (electricity)|battery]] to power a light. The electricity generated may also be used to power a motor to move the lemons (on wheels) like a car or truck. These experiments also work with other fruit like apples and with [[potato]]es.
 
  
 
==Lemon alternatives==
 
==Lemon alternatives==
Several other plants have a similar taste to lemons. In recent times, the Australian bush food [[Lemon myrtle]] has become a popular alternative to lemons.<ref>*[http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/bushtucker/lemon_myrtle.html Lemon Myrtle]</ref> The crushed and dried leaves and edible essential oils have a strong, sweet lemon taste, but contain no citric acid. Lemon myrtle is popular in foods that curdle with lemon juice, such as [[cheesecake]] and [[ice cream]].
+
Several other plants have a similar taste to lemons. In recent times, the Australian bush food Lemon myrtle has become a popular alternative to lemons. The crushed and dried leaves and edible essential oils have a strong, sweet lemon taste, but contain no citric acid. Lemon myrtle is popular in foods that curdle with lemon juice, such as [[cheesecake]] and [[ice cream]].
  
 
Many other plants are noted to have a lemon-like taste or scent. Among them are
 
Many other plants are noted to have a lemon-like taste or scent. Among them are
[[Cymbopogon]] (lemon grass), [[Lemon balm]], [[Lemon thyme]], [[Lemon verbena]], Scented [[geranium]]s, certain cultivars of [[basil]], and certain cultivars of [[mint]].
+
[[cymbopogon]] (lemon grass), [[lemon balm]], [[lemon thyme]], [[lemon verbena]], scented [[geranium]]s, certain cultivars of [[basil]], and certain cultivars of [[mint]].
  
==Production trends==
 
[[Image:Lemon_and_lime.JPG|thumb|right|Lemon and [[lime (fruit)|lime]] output in 2005]]
 
According to FAO, Mexico produced almost 12% of the global output of lemons and limes in 2005 followed  by India, Argentina, Iran and Brazil.
 
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
<div class="references-small">
 
<references />
 
</div>
 
*[http://www.gardenguides.com/plants/info/herbs/lemonherbs.asp Lemon Herbs]
 
*[http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=27 Lemon heath benefits]
 
*Andrew M. Watson, 1983. ''Agricultural Innovation in the Early Islamic World: The Diffusion of Crops and Farming Techniques, 700-1100''. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) pp 42-50
 
  
==External links==
+
* George Mateljan Foundation (GMF). 2007. [http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=27 Lemons/Limes] ''WHFoods'' (World's Healthiest foods). Retrieved August 6, 2007.
{{Commons|Citrus limon}}
+
* Herbst, S. T.  2001. ''The New Food Lover's Companion: Comprehensive Definitions of Nearly 6,000 Food, Drink, and Culinary Terms''. Barron's cooking guide. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 0764112589
*[http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/lemon.html (Purdue University)] Morton, Julia F. 1987. "Lemon". pp. 160–168, in ''Fruits of warm climates''. (Julia F. Morton, Miami)
+
* Krueger, R. R. 2003. Citrus fruit. In S. H. Katz and W. W. Weaver. ''Encyclopedia of Food and Culture''. New York: Schribner. ISBN 0684805685.
 +
* Komiya, M., T. Takeuchi, and E. Harada. 2006. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16780969&query_hl=6&itool=pubmed_docsum Lemon oil vapor causes an anti-stress effect via modulating the 5-HT and DA activities in mice] ''Behav Brain Res'' 172(2): 240-249. Retrieved August 6, 2007.
 +
* Pizzetti, M., F. De Marco, and S. Schuler. 1978. ''Simon and Schuster's Guide to Trees''. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0671241257
 +
* Russell, T., and C. Cutler.  2004. ''The World Encyclopedia of Trees''. London: Lorenz. ISBN 0754812928
 +
* Watson, A. M. 1983. ''Agricultural Innovation in the Early Islamic World: The Diffusion of Crops and Farming Techniques'', 700-1100. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 052124711X
  
 
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{{credit|132133478}}
 
[[Category:Life sciences]]
 
[[Category:Life sciences]]
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[[Category:Plants]]
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[[Category:Food]]

Latest revision as of 13:42, 30 May 2011

Lemon
Citrus x limon
Citrus x limon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Rosidae
Species: C. × limon
Binomial name
Citrus × limon
(L.) Burm.f.

Lemon (Citrus × limon) is a hybrid of the plant genus Citrus, as well as the common name for the popular edible fruit of this small tree or spreading bush. The lemon plant is characterized by thorny branches and white flowers with purple edges, while the acidic, juicy fruit is oval (egg-shaped), has an aromatic rind that is typically yellow when ripe (green as immature or under certain environmental conditions), and has a prominent nipple or bulge on the blossom end.

The Citrus genus is a group of flowering plants in the family Rutaceae (orange family) that originated in tropical and subtropical southeast Asia and that have a distinctive berry with the internal parts divided into segments. Other members of the Citrus genus include oranges, limes, citrons, grapefruit, pomelos (pummelo, pommelo), and mandarins (tangerines). Most members of the Citrus genus arose as hybrids, and the hybridized types of citrus, such as lemon (Citrus limon), may or may not be recognized as species according to different taxonomies (Krueger 2003).

While the fruit of the lemon serves the plant's individual purpose of reproduction, it also serves a wider value for humans in terms of culinary and non-culinary uses. Among the culinary uses are the use of the juice in drinks, garnishes for drinks, condiments, salad dressings, and squeezed over cooked meat or vegetables. As an astringent citrus, lemons generally are not eaten on their own. Among non-culinary purposes are the use of lemon oil in perfumes, cosmetics, and furniture polish and the tree for aesthetic purposes.

Lemon juice is about five percent acid, which gives lemons a sour taste and a pH of 2 to 3. This makes lemon juice a cheap, readily available acid for use in educational science experiments.

Description and overview

A lemon tree

A lemon tree can grow up to ten meters (33 feet), but they are usually smaller. The branches are thorny and form an open crown. The leaves are green, shiny, and elliptical-acuminate. Flowers are white on the outside with a violet streaked interior and have a strong fragrance. On a lemon tree, flowers and ripe fruits can be found at the same time (Lanzara and Pizetti 1978).

Lemon fruit are oval and can range from about the size of a large egg to a small grapefruit (Herbst 2001). When ripe, they have a bright yellow nose, a layer of pith underneath and a paler yellow segmented interior. Small seeds commonly known as 'floopies' are found within the fruit; the skin can be thick or thin. Notably, the color of citrus fruits only develops in climates with a (diurnal) cool winter. In tropical regions with no winter, citrus fruits remain green until maturity. Commercially, lemons are commonly picked while green and ripened in cool, dark rooms.

Lemon and lime output in 2005

For cooler winter areas, lemon and lime trees should not be grown, since they are more sensitive to winter cold than other citrus fruits. The largest producers are Italy and the United States. In the United States, lemons are commercially grown in cooler-summer/moderate-winter coastal Southern California, because sweetness is neither attained nor expected in retail lemon fruit. Other top producing nations include Spain, Greece, and Argentina.

History

Krueger (2003) claims that the generally accepted view is that there were three primordial Citrus species—Citrus medica (citrons), Citrus maxima (pumelos), and Citrus reticulata (mandarins)—and that all other types of citrus rose from single or sequential hybridization events between these species or their offspring. Based on whether the hybridized types of citrus are recognized as species, anywhere from three to 170 species are recognized, with the commonly used system of Swingle recognizing 16 species (Krueger 2003).

William-Adolphe Bouguereau: Girl Holding Lemons

The lemon is a cultivated hybrid deriving from wild species such as the citron and mandarin. When and where this first occurred is not known. The citron—apparently the fruit described in Pliny's Natural History (XII, vii.15) as the malum medicum, the "medicinal fruit"—seems to have been the first citrus fruit known in the Mediterranean world.

Depictions of citrus trees appear in Roman mosaics of North Africa, but the first unequivocal description of the lemon is found in the early tenth-century Arabic treatise on farming by Qustus al-Rumi. The use and cultivation of the lemon, by the Cantonese (Southern Barbarians) is noted in the early twelfth century. At the end of the twelfth century, Ibn Jami', personal physician to the Muslim leader Saladin, wrote a treatise on the lemon, after which it is mentioned with greater frequency in literature of the Mediterranean. However, it is believed that the first lemons were originally cultivated in the hot, semi-arid Deccan Plateau in Central India.

The origin of the name "lemon" is through Persian (لیمو Limu [pronounced with long e and short u]), akin to the Sanskrit nimbuka. They were cultivated in Genoa, Italy in the mid-fiteenth century, and appeared in the Azores in 1494. Research has identified lemons in the ruins of Pompeii (Russell and Cutler 2004). Lemons were once used by the British Royal Navy to combat scurvy, as they provided a large amount of Vitamin C.

Culinary uses

Lemons

The lemon fruit is used primarily for its juice, although the pulp and peel (rind) are also used, primarily in cooking and baking.

Astringent citrus, such as lemons and limes, are generally not eaten on their own. Both lemons and limes are regularly served as lemonade or limeade by diluting the juices of these fruits and adding sugar. Lemons and limes are also used as garnishes for drinks such as iced tea or a soft drink, with a slice either inside or on the rim of the glass. Only lemons, however, are used in the Italian liqueur Limoncello. A wedge of lemon is also often used to add flavor to water. Marmalade, a condiment derived from cooked orange and lemon, can be especially bitter.

Lemons and limes are used as an ingredient in a variety of dishes and their juice can commonly be found in salad dressings and squeezed over cooked meat or vegetables. Lemon juice is typically squeezed onto fish dishes—the acidic juice neutralizes the taste of amines in fish by converting them to nonvolatile ammonium salts. In addition, lemon juice is widely used, along with other ingredients, when marinating meat before cooking—the acid provided by the juice partially hydrolyzes the tough collagen fibers in the meat (tenderizing the meat).

Some people like to eat lemons as fruit; however, water should be consumed afterward to wash the citric acid and sugar from the teeth, which might otherwise promote tooth decay and many other dental diseases.

Lemons also make a good short-term preservative, commonly used on sliced apples. This keeps the fruit crisp and white for about a day, preventing the unappetizing browning effect of oxidization. This helps to prolong the usage of the fruit.

Lemon juice is used to relieve the pain of bee stings, though the juice does not have any antibiotic effects.

Lemons warmed to room temperature before squeezing (in a microwave or by leaving on a counter) increases the amount of juice that can be extracted. Storing lemons at room temperature for long periods makes them more vulnerable to mold.

Chemistry and health benefits

D-limonene

Lemons and other citrus fruits contain amounts of different chemicals that are thought to have some health benefits. They contain a terpene called D-limonene, which gives their characteristic lemon smell and taste. Lemons also contain significant amounts of citric acid—this is why they have a low pH and a sour taste.

Lemons are very high in Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), which is essential to human health. A 100 milliliter amount of lemon juice contains approximately 50 milligrams of vitamin C (55 percent of the recommended daily value) and five grams of citric acid. Because of its high vitamin C content, lemon has been touted in alternative medicine as a tonic for the digestive system, immune system, and skin. However, vitamin C is quickly lost once the lemon is squeezed, with a 20 percent loss after only eight hours at room temperature or 24 hours in a refrigerator (Herbst 2001).

Some sources state that lemons contain unique flavonoid compounds that have antioxidant and anti-cancer properties (GMF 2007). These may be able to deter cell growth in cancers. Limonins found in lemons could also be anti-carcinogens.

There is a belief in Ayurvedic medicine that a cup of hot water with lemon juice in it tonifies and purifies the liver.

Non-culinary uses of lemon

Historically, lemons have been utilized in a number of non-culinary purposes, including as an epilepsy remedy, an invisible ink, and a bleaching agent (Herbst 2001).

Lemons can be processed to extract oils and essences. Lemon oil or the essential oil is used in perfumes, cosmetics, and furniture polish. In a Japanese study into the effects of aromatherapy, lemon essential oil in vapor form has been found to reduce stress in mice (Komiya et al. 2006).

The peel of the lemon is used to make commercial pectin.

A common school experiment involving lemons is to attach electrodes and use them as a battery to power a light. The electricity generated may also be used to power a motor to move the lemons (on wheels) like a car or truck. These experiments also work with other fruit like apples and with potatoes.

Lemon alternatives

Several other plants have a similar taste to lemons. In recent times, the Australian bush food Lemon myrtle has become a popular alternative to lemons. The crushed and dried leaves and edible essential oils have a strong, sweet lemon taste, but contain no citric acid. Lemon myrtle is popular in foods that curdle with lemon juice, such as cheesecake and ice cream.

Many other plants are noted to have a lemon-like taste or scent. Among them are cymbopogon (lemon grass), lemon balm, lemon thyme, lemon verbena, scented geraniums, certain cultivars of basil, and certain cultivars of mint.


References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • George Mateljan Foundation (GMF). 2007. Lemons/Limes WHFoods (World's Healthiest foods). Retrieved August 6, 2007.
  • Herbst, S. T. 2001. The New Food Lover's Companion: Comprehensive Definitions of Nearly 6,000 Food, Drink, and Culinary Terms. Barron's cooking guide. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 0764112589
  • Krueger, R. R. 2003. Citrus fruit. In S. H. Katz and W. W. Weaver. Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. New York: Schribner. ISBN 0684805685.
  • Komiya, M., T. Takeuchi, and E. Harada. 2006. Lemon oil vapor causes an anti-stress effect via modulating the 5-HT and DA activities in mice Behav Brain Res 172(2): 240-249. Retrieved August 6, 2007.
  • Pizzetti, M., F. De Marco, and S. Schuler. 1978. Simon and Schuster's Guide to Trees. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0671241257
  • Russell, T., and C. Cutler. 2004. The World Encyclopedia of Trees. London: Lorenz. ISBN 0754812928
  • Watson, A. M. 1983. Agricultural Innovation in the Early Islamic World: The Diffusion of Crops and Farming Techniques, 700-1100. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 052124711X

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